Coping with Anxiety

by Eric Chaet

We need to know
that we don’t know what we don’t know
& that we can’t do what we can’t do—
&, so, forgive ourselves
for not meeting insane expectations—
&, tho we can’t satisfy
others’ insane expectations
we need to learn what we can learn
& do what we can do
&, so, know that,
under the circumstances
we’ve done the best that we could do
& that, if we live
to face a similar situation
tomorrow, or next week, or next year
we will be prepared to be of greater true service
& to provide for ourselves more capably
tho we still will not be able to meet insane expectations.